Convertible ladder.



S. S. GROVES.

GOflVEBTIBLE LADDER. APPLICATION TILED OCT. 13, 1908.-

920,733. Patented May 4, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES r INVENTOH ATTORNEYS S. S. GROVES.

CONVERTIBLE LADDER. .APPLIOATIOK rman 0011a, 1908.

Patented May 4, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- lNl/E N TOR J ifi/MJ. 6501/55,

WITNESSES BY A 770/?NE rs UNTTE STEPHEN S. GROVES, OF LORAINE, ILLINOIS.

CONVERTIBLE LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4:, 1909.

Application filed October 13, 1908. Serial No. 457,457.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN S. GRovEs, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Loraine, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Ladders,of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in ladders and especially in ladderswhich may be extended or may be converted into step ladders as desired;and the invention consists in certain novel constructions andcombinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my ladder with thesupplemental section projecting up to form an extension of the mainsection. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ladder with the supplementalsection adjusted to form the prop of a step ladder. Fig. 3 is a detailfront view of a portion of the ladder. Fig. 4- is a detail view of oneof the guides for the supplemental section. Fig. 5 is a detail view ofone of the slide plates carried by the supplemental section, and Fig. 6is a detail view of one of the supporting devices for the supplementalsection.

My ladder comprises a main section A, and a supplemental section Bslidable along the main section so it can be moved down to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 2, or up to the full line position shown inFig. 1.

The sections are composed each of side bars and rungs as usual inladders, and the main section A has a top board A forming a latform, andalso has its side bars A slotted ongitudinally at A from a point neartheir lower ends to points near their upper ends. The ends of the stepboards A of the main section are notched in their ends at A in alinementwith the slots A and thus form continuations of the said slots.

Guides C are provided in the form of castings having side plates Csecured to the outer faces of the side bars A near their upper ends andhaving flanges C underlying and secured to the extended ends of theplatform A and operating to brace and support the same.

An arm C extends rearwardly from the side plate C and unites with alateral inwardly projecting wing C from which a forwardly projectingwing C extends forming with the parts C and C a cuff embracing the sidebars of the supplemental section and in which the said side bars aremovable longitudinally at their res ective sides of the ladder,

The supplemental section B, has its side bars formed with upper mainsections B, and with short lower base sections B hinged together at Bwith the hinge joint so located relatively to the guides C that it willrest below said guides in the extended position of the supplementalsection shown in Fig. 1, and above said guides in the step ladderadjustment shown in Fig. 2.

The lower base sections B are provided with the slides D in the form ofcured to the base portions B and extending forwardly therefrom andhaving inwardly projecting wings D projecting into and op erating withinthe slots A Plates E are pivoted at E to the supplemental ladder sectionand are notched in their ends to engage upon the steps of the mainsection as shown in Fig. 1, to support the supplemental section B whenthe latter is extended as shown in said figure.

A chain F connects the main section and prop as shown in Fig. 2.

it will be noticed that the hinge joint is movable to a point below theguides on the main section when the parts are adjusted as shown in Fig.1, so that when the ladder is extended as shown in said figure theextension is firmly secured and braced by the said guides on the mainsection.

The notch in the upper end of the is designed to receive a pinprojecting laterally from the ladder, and operating as a stop to limitthe movement of the plate E and prevent it from going too far in eitherdirection I claim 1. A ladder comprising a main section having its sidebars provided with longitudinal slots, guides at the upper ends of saidside bars, a supplemental section having an upper or main portion and alower or base portion and a hinge joint between the two, the side barsof the supplemental section being movable longitudinally in the guidesof the main section, and plates secured to the supplemental section andhaving inwardly projecting wings entering the slots of the main section,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a main section having side bars and a top platformextending laterally beyond the side bars, guides having plates seplatell main plates secured to the side bars and lateral flanges underlyingand secured to the 1 lateral extensions of the platform and the 1supplemental section having side bars slidguides, and com- 7 one oi saidsections being adapted tor iLClJUStD'lQllt 1 ing longitudinally in saidposed ot sections hinged together,

to form a step ladder prop, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the main section;

provided With guides, and the supplemental section having its side barscomposed of up per and lower portions, and hinges connecting the same,the said side bars being movable longitudinally in the guides to bringthe hinge connections above or below the same,

substantially as set forth.

t. The combination of the main section having its side hers slottedlongitudinally, guides at the upper end of said main section a.supplemental section having its side hers slidable lon itudinelly in theguides of the main. section, and plates secured to the side bars of thesupplemental section and having Wings operating in the slots of the mainsec- 1 tion, substantially as set forth.

STEPHEN S. GROVES.

ll itnesses J. G. STUART, NEWELL SAPP.

